Naranjito gets all four lanes of PR-5 back: three years and $24.6 million later, the sinkhole bottleneck is over

The more than 50,000 drivers who cross PR-5 in Naranjito every day can finally drive without the bottleneck that shadowed them for over three years. On Thursday afternoon the government reopened all four lanes of the highway at kilometer 24.1, closing the heaviest phase of the reconstruction of the sinkhole that had funneled all traffic into just two lanes since 2023 ¹².

Governor Jenniffer González Colón made the announcement on the highway itself alongside Naranjito Mayor Orlando Ortiz Chevres, Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP) Secretary Edwin González Montalvo, and District 28 Representative Axel "Chino" Roque ¹³. "More than 50,000 vehicles travel through here daily, and today we are giving the four lanes back to the people," the governor said during the event ¹.

The background

The problem was born with the intense rains of April 28, 2023, which collapsed several drainage systems beneath the road. A 96-inch pipe shifted some 30 feet out of place and the ground gave way, forming a sinkhole roughly 75 feet deep, according to official project data ¹². Then-Governor Pedro Pierluisi issued an emergency declaration and reconstruction began in August 2023, but traffic remained limited to two lanes throughout the work ².

PR-5 is not just any road: it is the main artery connecting Naranjito, Barranquitas, and the central mountain region with Bayamón and the metro area. Mayor Ortiz Chevres acknowledged it was "a very complex project" that required multiple design changes to guarantee the stability of the terrain ². For thousands of workers and students who head down to the metro area every morning, that two-lane funnel meant daily rush-hour jams.

The numbers

The total investment comes to $24.6 million in combined state and federal funds ¹³. The repaired section sits at kilometer 24.1 and carries over 50,000 vehicles daily ¹. As part of the same effort, DTOP also repaved and re-striped PR-152, the connector between Naranjito and Barranquitas that forms part of the mountain gastronomic route, with a $1.9 million transfer and work completed in roughly a month and a half ¹³.

Although all four lanes are now open, the project is not finished. Two retention ponds and additional drainage piping remain to be built ². DTOP projects completing that remaining work by December 31, 2026, without affecting traffic flow, though the governor acknowledged full project closeout could stretch into 2027 ¹².

What it means for you

If you live in Naranjito, Barranquitas, or Corozal and commute daily to Bayamón or San Juan, your rush-hour trip should ease immediately: the choke point where four lanes squeezed into two no longer exists. Businesses in the town center and along the gastronomic route should also feel the relief, since the freshly repaved PR-152 improves weekend access. That said, this remains an active construction zone until at least December: crews and heavy equipment will be working on the drainage systems beside the road, so temporary signage will remain in place.

How to do it / Checklist

1. If you were using alternate routes like PR-152 or PR-164 to dodge the kilometer 24.1 bottleneck, update your route in Waze or Google Maps: all four lanes of PR-5 are now operating in both directions ¹.
2. Slow down and obey the temporary signage along the section: drainage work continues at the edge of the roadway through December 31, 2026 ¹².
3. To report potholes, downed signage, or problems on PR-5, PR-152, or any state road, call the Government Services Line by dialing 3-1-1 or the DTOP switchboard at (787) 722-2929.
4. Check for closures and detours before heading out at dtop.pr.gov and on DTOP's official social media, especially if you travel in the early morning hours, when work is often scheduled.
5. If your property borders the site of the pending retention ponds, watch for notices from the Municipality of Naranjito about the final construction phase.

What's next

Between now and the end of the year, the contractor must finish the remaining piping and the two retention ponds that complete the drainage system, designed with reinforced linings to reduce the risk of future collapses ¹². DTOP maintains that this phase will not require lane closures. Administrative closeout of the project could come in 2027 ². It is worth watching whether the schedule holds: the official completion date is December 31, 2026, and this very project has already shown that mountain terrain does not forgive delays.

Sources

1. El Vocero — Naranjito recupera los cuatro carriles de la PR-5
2. Primera Hora — Abierto al tránsito tramo de la carretera PR-5 en Naranjito
3. Foro Noticioso — Naranjito recupera los cuatro carriles de la PR-5